Space Shuttle Discovery

Carried by its mobile launcher platform, shuttle Discovery slowly moves through the high bay doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building on the way to Launch Pad 39A before the STS-82 mission. A seven-member crew performed the second servicing of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope during the flight. (NASA, Jan. 17 1997)

NASA, Jan. 17 1997

The shuttle buzzed D.C. in three wide loops. (WTOP/Paul D. Shinkman)

WTOP/Paul D. Shinkman

A view of the shuttle Discovery from RFK Stadium. (Courtesy Marjke Matthes via Twitter)

Courtesy Marjke Matthes via Twitter

The shuttle Discover makes its first pass over Dulles Airport. (Courtesy Twitter user @bigwinnerx)

Courtesy Twitter user @bigwinnerx

The shuttle Discovery flying over Herndon, Va. (Courtesy Justin Garza via Twitter)

Courtesy Justin Garza via Twitter

The final descent of the shuttle Discovery. (Courtesy Twitter user @sarawd)

Courtesy Twitter user @sarawd

The shuttle Discovery from the 17th floor offices of McGuirewoods LLP in Tysons Corner. (Courtesy Joy Miller)

Courtesy Joy Miller

Another view of the shuttle Discovery flying over the D.C. area. (Courtesy Twitter user @JayNew_83)

Courtesy Twitter user @JayNew_83

A photo of the shuttle flying over Manassas. (Courtesy Ginny Chambers via Twitter)

Courtesy Ginny Chambers via Twitter

Another view of the shuttle Discovery flying over the D.C. area (Courtesy Twitter user @stellie72)

Courtesy Twitter user @stellie72

The shuttle Discovery flies over the D.C. area Tuesday morning. (Courtesy Lynn Golub-Rofrano via Twitter)

Courtesy Lynn Golub-Rofrano via Twitter

A view of the shuttle Discovery as it passed over K Street NE in D.C. (Courtesy Karen Maria Alston via Twitter)

Courtesy Karen Maria Alston via Twitter

A view of the shuttle Discovery from the tarmac at Reagan National Airport. ‏(Courtesy Jack McKinney via Twitter)

Courtesy Jack McKinney via Twitter

Discovery's career began in 1984 with the STS-41D mission. The tribute pictured here hangs in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery is shown circled by its 39 mission patches -- including the patch for its final planned flight, STS-133. The background image was taken from the Hubble Space Telescope, which launched aboard Discovery on STS-31 and serviced by Discovery on STS-82 and STS-103. The American flag and bald eagle represent Discovery's role in returning American astronauts to space with the STS-26 and STS-114 missions. (NASA/Amy Lombardo)

NASA/Amy Lombardo

Space shuttle Columbia on Pad 39A "watches" the picture-perfect ascent of sister ship Discovery during its liftoff on STS-31. The launch pads are separated by 1.6 miles. Discovery, carrying a five-member crew and the Hubble Space Telescope, lifted off at 8:34 a.m. (NASA)

NASA

A view of the shuttle Discovery from RFK Stadium. (Courtesy Marjke Matthes via Twitter)

Courtesy Marjke Matthes via Twitter

Oct. 29, 1998: From the roof of the Launch Control Center, U.S. President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton track the plume and successful launch of space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-95. This was the first shuttle launch to be viewed by President Clinton, or any President to date. They attended the launch to witness the return to space of American senator and Mercury astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., payload specialist on the mission. (NASA)

NASA

June 6, 1999: With its drag chute fully deployed, space shuttle Discovery lands on Kennedy's brightly lighted Shuttle Landing Facility runway 15, completing the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute and 1-second STS-96 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 2:02:43 a.m. EDT June 6, landing on orbit 154. This was the 94th flight in the space shuttle program and the 26th for Discovery. (NASA)

NASA

July 4, 2006: In Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach (foreground) cheers over the successful liftoff of space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-121 -- the first ever Independence Day launch of a space shuttle. At far left is Stephanie Stilson, NASA flow director for Discovery. (NASA/Kim Shiflett)

NASA/Kim Shiflett

Sept. 8, 2009: Using a still camera at a window on Discovery's aft flight deck, astronaut Tim Kopra photographs the International Space after the two spacecraft undocked. (NASA)

NASA

March 9, 2011: NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden leads the STS-133 crew to media representatives waiting on the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to hear statements about space shuttle Discovery's final spaceflight mission. (NASA/Kim Shiflett)

NASA/Kim Shiflett

In Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Feb. 24, 2011: NASA's Discovery Flow Director Stephanie Stilson, left, STS-133 Assistant Shuttle Launch Director and lead NASA Test Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach watch the launch of space shuttle Discovery.(NASA/Kim Shiflett)

NASA/Kim Shiflett

Dec. 21, 2010: The beginning of a total lunar eclipse hovers over the top of space shuttle Discovery as the spacecraft awaits rollback from Launch Pad 39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA/Kim Shiflett)

NASA/Kim Shiflett

APTOPIX Space Shuttle Discovery April 17, 2012: Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Discovery is being transported to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

AP Photo/John Raoux

Space Shuttle Discovery Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Discovery is being transported to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

AP Photo/John Raoux

WTOP/Greg Redfern

The shuttle Discovery flies over the D.C. area Tuesday. (Courtesy Bob Tetro)

Courtesy Bob Tetro

Another look at the shuttle Discovery as it makes it way around D.C. (Courtesy Steve Sisak)

Courtesy Steve Sisak

A view of the shuttle Discovery flyover from the Sully Park area along Route 28. (Courtesy Steve Sisak)

Courtesy Steve Sisak

The shuttle Discovery making its flyover the D.C. area. The photo was taken from the Sully Park area along Route 28. (Courtesy Steve Sisak)

Courtesy Steve Sisak

The shuttle Discovery lands at Dulles Airport. Will become Smithsonian exhibit. (Courtesy NASA TV)

Courtesy NASA TV

The space shuttle Discovery at Dulles Airport. (Courtesy NASA TV)

Courtesy NASA TV

Instead of showing a ''Tow-Away'' Zone, reader Cindy Joy thought the sign should say ''Piggy-Backing'' Zone. (Courtesy Cindy Joy)

Courtesy Cindy Joy

The shuttle Discovery as seen from a rooftop in Chantilly, Va. (Courtesy Brian Parillo)

Courtesy Brian Parillo

The shuttle Discovery as seen from JB Anacostia-Bolling in D.C. (Courtesy Steele C. G. Britton)

Courtesy Steele C. G. Britton

The shuttle Discovery on its flyover of D.C. (Courtesy Steele C. G. Britton)

Courtesy Steele C. G. Britton

The shuttle Discovery as seen from an office building in McLean, Va. (Courtesy Paul Chang)

Courtesy Paul Chang

A view of the shuttle Discovery as taken from an office building in McLean, Va. (Courtesy Paul Chang)

Courtesy Paul Chang

A view of the shuttle Discovery flying over McLean Tuesday. (Courtesy Paul Chang)

Courtesy Paul Chang

The shuttle Discovery over the D.C. area Tuesday. (Courtesy Bob Tetro)

Courtesy Bob Tetro

The shuttle Discovery salutes D.C. on its way to Dulles Airport. (Courtesy Bob Tetro)

Courtesy Bob Tetro

A view of the shuttle Discovery as it makes its flyover the D.C. area. (Courtesy Elly Brosius via Twitter)

Courtesy Elly Brosius via Twitter

The shuttle Discovery makes its flyover the D.C. area. (Courtesy Julie W. via Twitter)

Courtesy Julie W. via Twitter

A view of the shuttle Discovery from Seven Oaks Academy in Manassas. (Courtesy Stacy Doyle)

Courtesy Stacy Doyle

Kids from the Seven Oaks Academy in Manassas watch the shuttle Discovery flyover the area. The children range in age from 16 months to 6 years old. (Courtesy Stacy Doyle)

Courtesy Stacy Doyle